Fascinated by Gross National Happiness but don’t know much of Bhutan?
Bhutan is one of the world’s youngest democracies, having had its first elections in 2008 with the move to democracy being instigated by His Majesty the fourth King, who ceded the throne to his son the same year. It is also distinctive in terms of geography– being nestled between China and India yet now at peace amid territories with tension.
Bhutan, the Land of the Thunder Dragon, is perhaps most famous for Gross National Happiness (GNH) – the idea that public policy succeeds when it provides the causes and conditions of happiness in its many dimensions, rather than merely when it delivers economic growth. A key part of GNH may be the thriving culture and traditions, and the exceptionally intense Vajrayana Buddhism which underlies these, although religious diversity is evident and changes are in motion. Bhutan has also at times had the fastest economic growth rate in the world, and this was fuelled by hydropower. Policies address ecology in practical ways such as preserving forest cover and stimulating organic farming. Yet given globalisation, Bhutan is at a crossroads with evident social, economic, cultural, ecological and political fragility. Geopolitically strategic, and prominent internationally, Bhutan is home to around 700,000 people – making it delicate – or deceptively agile. So academic research on Bhutan can have practical significance.
A New Community of Scholars: Amazing People
This conference draws together the honourable former Prime Minister of Bhutan who just stepped down a few months ago, an intellectual architect of GNH policies who studied PPE at Magdalen. In addition, among the delegation are Bhutanese eminent politicians,journalists, researchers, students, monks and nuns, and leading intellectuals –both foreign and Bhutanese. It depicts in a microcosm of the kinds of expertise and insights that are emerging from and on Bhutan. It also draws together an important cross-section of the community of researchers on Bhutan across disciplinary boundaries. Throughout the conference, we will seek to further extend and consolidate this community in practical ways – by sharing bibliography, networks, and good ideas from other area studies and communities.
A Multidisciplinary event: Amazing Topics
The conference has a plethora of hidden jewels in its papers and presentations. If you are interested in language, no less than five linguistic papers are presented, with titles as intriguing as, ‘Gongduk agreement morphology in functional and diachronic perspective’. If it’s ecology, you can learn about earthquake resilience, vertical farming, water-sharing, sacred groves, and home ranges for both birds and deities.
In the policy world, papers address values,education, gross national happiness and its policies over time. It also links with Ubuntu and Buen Vivir, social media and elections, India-Bhutan relations,and the trials of multi-party democracy in a small country in the 21st century,
Anthropologists probe in-country migration, post-mortem practices, ritual chants, food culture, and archaeology. Legal scholars talk of rights and modernising dispute settlement mechanisms. Biographers trace women’s empowerment via Gelongma Palmo, Tsangpa Gyare and pedagogical styles, and sacred geography via Padmasambhava. In the spiritual realm, papers address topics such as whispered treasures of mind-body practices and astrology. In the first plenary, three highly accomplished ritual and meditation masters speak on Masked Dances, Religious Music and Chants, and Mandalas – all chaired by a highly respected writer and teacher on Christian contemplation.
Indeed the chairs of the events themselves represent a broad cross-section of the University as well as of Bhutan’s society, with representation anticipated from Oriental Studies, Development Studies, Area Studies, the Business School, the Blavatnik School of Government,Anthropology, and Administration.
To top it all off: An Afternoon in the Sheldonian Theatre
As if that feast were not enough in itself, there are two public events in Oxford’s gracious and appropriately atmospheric Sheldonian Theatre. Dasho Tshering Tobgay, former Prime Minister of Bhutan, will reflect on Bhutan, a ten-year old democracy that, like many ten year olds, stands at a crossroads with future uncertain. Next, Dasho Karma Ura, the architect of Gross National Happiness concept measure and policy, will discuss Development with Integrity, chaired by the Vice Chancellor of the University, Louise Richardson. Because the concept and measurement of well-being are of intense interest, with the OECD just releasing a proposal‘beyond GDP, Martine Durand, Chief Statistician of the OECD and James Foster, the highly cited and far-sighted economic theorist, will respond. And as if the intellectual treat was not sufficient, between the two distinguished lectures, to make the experience appropriately well-rounded the Sheldonian will be filled, perhaps for its first time, with Bhutanese songs and dances.
We hope to see you there, and hope to engage you, your skills, reflections and research in years to come.